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THE  MISSIONS  OF  THE 
PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 
IN  CHINA 

and 

THE  BOARD  AT  HOME  have 

adopted  a definite  policy  of 
strengthening  and  extending 

THE  EVANGELISTIC  WORK 
especially  in  CHINA’S 
WALLED  CITIES.  This  is  re- 
garded as  the  most  important 
work  to  be  done  in  the  im- 
mediate future. 


I 


CITIES’  EVANGELIZATION 


Through  a series  of  great 
movements  beginning  in  1 895 
just  after  the  China-Japanese 
War,  the  scholars  and  rulers  of 
China  have  come  to  distrust  the 
old  heathen  religions. 

Now,  for  the  first  time  in 
Chinese  history,  the  gates  of 
1700  great  and  ancient  Walled 
Cities  are  open  to  Christian  in- 
fluence. 

The  gentry  of  these  Cities, 
rich,  powerful,  reactionary,  have 
heretofore  scorned  the  Gospel 
message.  Now  all  influential 
classes,  literati.  Government  stu- 
dents and  officials  are  ready  to 
listen. 


2 


DING  LEI  MAI 
China's  Greatest  Native  Evangelist 


EVANGELISTIC  WORK 
THROUGHOUT  CHINA 

Throughout  the  China  Missions  a 
new  emphasis  is  to  be  laid  on 
evangelistic  effort, — the  proclama- 
tion of  the  Gospel  to  the  people. 

This  is  to  be  accomplished  by 
itineration  on  the  part  of  the  mission- 
ary, visiting  groups  of  inquirers  and 
catechumens,  and  gathering  together 
into  church  congregations  little  com- 
panies of  people  who  have  heard 
the  Word  gladly. 

AND 

Securing  Chinese  leaders  in  larger 
numbers  and  placing  the  respon- 
sibility upon  them  of  developing 
these  companies  of  Christians  into 
Churches. 

There  are  strong  Chinese  Chris- 
tian graduates  of  our  Colleges, 
ready  to  undertake  this  work,  often 
times  a great  personal  sacrifice,  if 
only  they  can  be  helped  until 
properly  established. 

THIS  WILL  REQUIRE: 

An  increase  in  the  grant  of  funds 
for  evangelistic  work  to  provide  for 
the  expansion  of  present  undertak- 


4 


ings.  Our  mission  stations  in  China 
are  like  factories  running  at  only  a 
fraction  of  their  full  capacity. 
Obviously  it  is  more  important  and 
economical  to  take  up  the  margin 
and  run  these  factories  at  their  full 
capacity  than  it  would  be  to  go  on 
building  new  factories.  The  main 
purpose  and  object  of  evangelistic 
work  is 

THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF 
CHURCHES 

Churches  contain  within  their 
doors  the  units  of  society,  fathers, 
mothers  and  children.  Within  the 
doors  of  the  Christian  Church  those 
devoted  to  Christ  meet  for  mutual 
cooperation  and  help,  and 

THE  LIFE  WHICH  SHALL  EVAN- 
GELIZE THE  NATIONS  MUST 
FLOW  OUT  OF  THE  CHURCHES, 
AND  CAN  COME  FROM 
THEM  ALONE. 

EVANGELISM  PRODUCES 
CHURCHES 

The  present  time  is  ripe  for 
strengthening  the  evangelistic  work. 


5 


IN  SHANTUNG  PROVINCE 


Shantung  Province,  of  some  40 
million  people,  has  1 08  walled  cities, 
with  many  additional  market  towns, 
large  and  important,  and  multitudes 
of  villages.  Of  these  1 08  centers, 
some  85  fall,  by  comity  arrange- 
ments with  other  Missions,  to  the 
American  Presbyterian  Mission  to 
evangelize. 

Among  the  Chinese  Christian 
leaders  an  “Independent  Church” 
movement  had  been  started,  to  do 
this  very  thing — to  reach  the  gospel- 
neglected  ruling  classes  of  China. 
Instead  of  isolation  or  reduplication 
of  work,  it  was  proposed  by  some 
of  these  high-grade  native  workers 
and  leaders  that  there  should  be  full 
cooperation  between  them  and  the 
Foreign  Missions.  Accordingly, 
therefore,  arrangements  have  been 
perfected  between  them  and  the 
American  Presbyterian  Mission 
which  hopes  to  do  its  share  of  this 
China- wide  work;  and  we  are  to  be- 
gin by  opening  at  least  1 5 cities  in 


6 


those  sections  of  Shantung  Province 
for  which  the  Presbyterian  Church 
is  responsible. 

With  regard  to  Chinese  men 
available  for  this  great  undertaking, 
we  Presbyterians  in  Shantung  are 
circumstanced  with  peculiar  favor 
and  consequent  weighty  account- 
ability. Some  50  years  ago  the 
foundations  of  Shantung  University 
were  laid  and  today  we  have 
graduates  from  this  Institution 
scattered  all  over  China.  They  are 
educated  men,  with  ability,  experi- 
ence and  consecration.  They  are 
willing  to  leave  positions  as  heads 
of  departments  in  the  government, 
and  as  professors  in  schools  of 
higher  learning,  etc.,  (with  all  the 
prestige  and  honor  that  such  posi- 
tions in  China  carry),  in  order  to 
take  up  this  work,  and  at  greatly  re- 
duced salaries.  Accordingly,  our 
Mission  has  promptly  met  them  half 
way  by  requesting  the  Home  Church 
to  raise  twenty-five  thousand  dollars 
at  once  and  one  hundred  thousand 
ultimately  for  the  carrying  out  of 
the  project. 


7 


pany  of  Directors  of  Shantung  Christian  I'niversity,  both  Chinese  and  American  Missionaries, 
with  Foreign  visitors  on  the  new  40  acre  tract  secured  for  the  enlargement  ami 
extension  of  the  University  Campus. 


AN  OUTLINE  OF  THE  PLAN 
Approximately  $5,000.00  will  be 
spent  for  the  plant  in  each  city  and 
$500.00  a year  furnished  for  five 
years,  when  it  is  expected  that  the 
Institution  shall  have  become  self- 
supporting. 

The  old  Pawn-Shops  in  many  of 
these  walled  cities  can  be  purchased 
and  made  over  for  $5,000.00. 

The  change  in  economic  condi- 
tions has  made  the  large  pawn  shops 
unprofitable.  These  are  large  stone 
or  brick  buildings  which  can  be  easily 
transformed  so  as  to  provide  facil- 
ities for  a large  institutional  work. 
Each  building  will  contain: 

(a)  A large  auditorium 

(b)  A street  chapel 

(c)  A guest  room  for  men  and  one 
for  women 

(d)  School  and  Bible  Class  Rooms  to 
be  used  both  day  and  evening. 


9 


WORKERS 

Engaged  in  this  work  will  be  an 
older  graduate,  together  with  a 
younger  college  graduate,  a Bible 
woman  and  a gateman.  It  is  pro- 
posed to  have  an  educated  physi- 
cian traveling  among  each  five  of 
these  fifteen  cities,  seeing  patients 
four  days  every  month  in  each  city. 
Shantung  College  is  proposing  to 
make  this  its  benevolent  enterprise, 
securing  gifts  from  the  alumni  scat- 
tered all  over  China;  and  the  Chris- 
tians of  the  country  whose  city  is 
thus  occupied  will  assist;  also  the 
gentry  in  the  cities  occupied  have 
already  given  substantial  assistance. 
It  is  expected  that  at  the  end  of 
three  years,  or  at  most  five,  the  cost 
of  the  work  will  be  guaranteed  by 
the  Chinese  themselves. 

This  whole  project  is  entrusted  to 
the  oversight  of  six  men,  three  Chin- 
ese selected  by  the  Synod  and  three 
missionaries  selected  by  the  Mission. 

THIS  PLAN  VERSUS  A BIG 
MISSION  STATION 
It  costs  approximately  $50,000.00 
to  establish  one  Mission  Station 
manned  by  foreign  missionaries. 
TTe  great  financial  advantage  of  the 
new  Plan  is  apparent. 

10 


SOME  CONSIDERATIONS  COM- 
MENDING THE  PROJECT 

This  project  is  not  a new  one,  but 
is  the  outgrowth  of  convictions  long 
maturing  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
ablest  of  our  missionaries  evolved  on 
the  field,  out  of  a full  knowledge  of 
conditions  on  the  field,  by  those  who 
have  lived  there  longest. 

The  project  commended  itself  at 
once  to  leaders  of  other  missions  in 
China,  as  well  as  to  the  leaders  of 
the  Home  Church. 

I.  It  is  occupying  the  strategic 
centers.  For  the  vast  population  of 
each  county,  the  county  seat  is  be- 
coming more  and  more  the  com- 
manding political,  commercial,  edu- 
cational, and  social  center.  Form- 
erly the  Cities  have  been  most  diffi- 
cult of  approach,  but  now  their 
doors  are  thrown  wide  open. 

II.  It  furnishes  an  attractive  field 
for  an  able  Christian  leadership.  As 

in  all  times  and  countries,  large 
church  success  awaits  a fully 
equipped  leadership.  Here,  as  in 
the  West,  high-grade  leaders  are 
not  satisfied  with  a pastorate  among 


II 


M(‘|>rrH(’iitativeK  <>l  tin*  Ilwai  Yiicii,  (IhriHliait  coiiiiniiiiity  at  tlic  landing  plarr  nf  tin*  llwai  Hiv<*r, 
paying  llu*ir  roapt'cta  lei  a Feiredgn  tiede'gutiein  from  the  Meiarel. 


scattered  country  churches,  but  are 
attracted  to  the  cities.  We  have 
some  such  men  ready  for  this  work, 
and  an  inspiring  program  will  doubt- 
less secure  all  that  is  needed. 

III.  This  plan  makes  prompt  use 
of  available  resources  and  looks 
forward  to  a new  and  permanent 
method  of  work. 

IV.  This  plan  promises  Chinese 
and  foreign  co-operation  instead  of 
sepau’ation.  If  we  have  the  grace 
and  vision  to  accord  to  these  men 
these  positions  of  evangelistic  prom- 
inence while  retaining  a directing  in- 
fluence, it  will  be  ideal. 

V.  This  plan  is  calculated  to 
eliminate  the  idea  that  a foreign 
church  is  being  planted  throughout 
China  which  impression  is  a serious 
drawback.  Moreover  the  Chinese 
Church  itself  will  never  have  large 
success  until  its  members  are  filled 
with  the  realization  that  this  is  an 
enterprise  for  which  they  are  respon- 
sible. Now  is  the  psychological 
time  for  turning  this  responsibility 
over  to  them. 

VI.  This  method  of  work  helps 
to  make  worth  while  in  an  evangelis- 


13 


tic  way  the  large  amount  of  effort 
and  money  put  into  higher  educa- 
tion in  Shantung.  It  furnishes  open- 
ings for  able  and  consecrated  grad- 
uates, because  such  feel  drawn  to- 
wards the  influential  task  of  bearing 
witness  for  Christ  in  city  centers 
where  the  men  who  are  shaping  the 
destinies  of  China  go  and  come. 

VII.  Such  occupation  will  give 
needed  prestige  to  the  directly  evzui- 
gelistic  work  in  the  eyes  of  the  influ- 
ential classes  both  in  and  out  of  the 
church.  Tire  rapidly  increasing 
prominence  given  to  our  church  edu- 
cation is  calculated  to  misrepresent 
our  missionary  object.  We  need 
the  prominence  of  this  city  enter- 
prise for  the  balancing  up  of  the 
several  departments  of  our  common 
work. 

VIII.  This  campaign  is  com- 
mended by  its  plan  of  approach. 

Bible  preaching  and  teaching  is  to 
be  supplemented  by  lectures, 
schools,  woman’s  work,  medical 
work  and  Y.M.C.A.,  thus  touching 
many  different  points  of  approach 
to  mind  and  heart. 

IX.  This  evangelistic  effort  prom- 
ises to  arrest  the  attention  and  save 


14 


from  spiritual  bemkruptcy  the  edu- 
cated classes,  and  stem  the  rising 
tide  of  an  atheistic,  materialistic 
philosophy  of  life.  With  the  grip 
of  the  old  religions  gone,  with  athe- 
ism the  popular  form  of  educated 
thought,  and  agnostic  literature 
widely  read,  together  with  a more 
or  less  conscious  desire  of  the  edu- 
cated to  find  something  to  satisfy 
the  cravings  of  the  soul,  it  is  easy 
to  see  that  a veritable  crisis  has 
come  in  the  religious  history  of 
China. 

X.  This  project  has  already 
passed  the  theoretical  stage.  We 

have  two  such  men  already  at  work 
in  two  cities  with  splendid  results. 
They  are  men  who  could  command 
much  larger  salaries  elsewhere,  but 
who  prefer  this  soul-winning  work 
in  these  cities.  It  would  be  hard  to 
find  a Christian  appeal  combining 
so  many  attractive  and  impelling 
considerations. 

A single  special  gift  of  $25,000 
and  $2,500  per  annum  for  five 
years  would  make  it  possible  to  give 
this  plan  a thorough  trial  for  five 
new  cities. 


15 


GIFTS  FOR  EVANGELISTIC 
WORK  IN  CHINA 


A total  of  $50,000.00  in 
gifts  will  enable  the  Board  and 
the  Missions  to  multiply  the 
power  of  the  present  plant  and 
present  Mission  force  many 
times.  NOW  IS  THE  TIME. 

“China  has  the  Christian  men 
educated,  tried,  self-sacrificing, 
able — to  evangelize  China.  You 
have  the  American  money  to 
link  them  up  with  the  greatest 
single  task  that  yet  remains  to 
be  accomplished  before  Christ 
comes  again.” 


16 


CALLS  FROM  THE  FOREIGN  FIELD 
THE  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  THE  U.S.A. 

156  FIFTH  AVE.,  N Y. 


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The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.S.A. 
156  Fifth  Ave.,  New  York 


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